Building Community Readiness – Strategies that Promote Change Holly Raffle Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs

Introductory Activity Introductory Activity Getting to know the people in the room… You (what is your name and those from same coalition –Your county and what it is known for –Your agency and what it does –Your job and how community readiness applies to your work Coalitions –What does it want to accomplish? –What are some of the member agencies/organizations? –What are some recent successes? –What are some barriers to its work? Communities –What are some in your county/area? –Who belongs to them? –How do they define themselves? –How do they differ from each other?

Learning Objectives 1.Discuss the importance of community readiness assessment in the creation and/or identification of community- specific and culturally-specific interventions. 2.Plan prevention strategies specifically for each stage of community readiness.

Background There is a growing awareness among prevention practitioners that understanding a community’s level of readiness is key to implementing successful prevention strategies.

Purpose The purpose of a community readiness assessment is to assess attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of residents in a community regarding a particular issue.

What Is Community Readiness and Why Is It Important? What Is Community Readiness and Why Is It Important? Community readiness is the extent to which a community is adequately prepared to implement a prevention program. A community must have the support and commitment of its members along with needed resources to implement an effective prevention effort. Because community readiness is a process, factors associated with it can be objectively assessed and systematically enhanced. (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1997)

Why Increase Community Readiness? Effectiveness Enduring, coordinated, and comprehensive efforts at the local level are more likely to have the desired impact if prevention professionals work with local citizens and community leaders from many segments of the community in planning, coordinating, and implementing the prevention effort.

Why Increase Community Readiness? Continuity Prevention programs are more likely to succeed and continue to operate when they are created by local citizens and tailored to the needs and resources of the local community.

Community A Community B

Overview of the CRM Individual Readiness (Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change, Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) Community Readiness (Edwards, Jumper-Thurman, Plested, Oetting, Swanson, 2000) 1.Precontemplation 2.Contemplation 3.Preparation 4.Action 5.Maintenance 1.No Awareness 2.Denial/Resistance 3.Vague Awareness 4.Preplanning 5.Preparation 6.Initiation 7.Stabilization 8.Confirmation/Expansion 9.High Level of Community Ownership

Stages of Community Readiness Tolerance It’s just the way things are. Denial It’s not my problem. We can’t do anything about it. Vague Awareness We think there is a problem & maybe someone will do something

Stages of Community Readiness Pre- planning Something ought to be done, but what? Preparation We’re planning, but we need more information & resources Initiation We’re working on it! We have enthusiasm!

Stages of Community Readiness Stabilization We have established activities. Evaluation is limited. Expansion Activities have been evaluated & modified. Planning is data-based. Ready to expand scope. Professional Comprehensive plan is in place. Evaluation is routine. Community involvement is high.

Capacity vs. Readiness Community capacity is the ability to act. Community readiness is the willingness to act. Communities can have one or the other or both.

Community Readiness Tools Invitation Health Institute’s Community Readiness Survey (formerly known as the Minnesota Institute of Public Health - MIPH) – specific to ATODG Community Partner Institute's Community Prevention Readiness Index – specific to ATODG Goodman & Wandersman’s Community Key Leader Survey – specific to ATODG Tri-Ethnic Community Readiness Model

Matching Prevention Strategies to a Community’s Level of Readiness

Stage 1 – No Awareness Goal: Raise Awareness of the Issue Strategies: One-on-one visits or calls Visiting existing/established small groups Recruit potential supporters

Stage 2 – Denial / Resistance Goal: This issue exists in our community. Strategies: Continue one-on-ones Discuss local incidents Information dissemination Sample media message: “Is child abuse somebody else’s business? Domestic violence affects children.”

Stage 3 – Vague Awareness Goal: Our community can make positive change. Strategies: Information dissemination increased – posters, fliers, billboards Initiate your own events to present info. Conduct informal surveys/interviews Publish editorials/articles with general information  local situation Sample media: “Our community can change their world.” (with photos of children)

Stage 4 – Preplanning Goal: Develop concrete strategies. Strategies: Introduce information through presentations and media. Develop support from key community leaders Review existing efforts Conduct local focus groups to discuss ideas and think about strategies Media: PSAs

Stage 5 – Preparation Goal: Gather pertinent information. Strategies: Conduct community surveys (adults, youth, and/or children Sponsor an event to kick-off effort Present in-depth local statistics Determine and disseminate the cost of the problem Public forums to develop strategies Key leaders to speak to groups & media

Stage 6 – Initiation Goal: Provide community-specific information. Strategies: In-service training for professionals Publicity efforts to kick of programming Meetings to provide updates on effort Consumer interviews for continuous improvement Begin to seek funding streams

Stage 7 – Stabilization Goal: Stabilize efforts or establish programs. Strategies: Events to maintain support Expand training to community members Introduce program evaluation Quarterly meetings to review progress and modify strategies Special recognition events for supporters & volunteers Newspaper articles detailing progress and plans Start networking – systems approach!

Stage 8 – Confirmation and Expansion Goal: Expand and enhance services. Strategies: Formalize networking with MOUs Prepare community needs/risk assessment profile Publish a directory Maintain a comprehensive database Develop a speaker’s bureau Policy/enforcement changes through support of local government Media outreach on trends and data

Stage 9 – High Level of Community Ownership Goal: Maintain momentum, grow, and use what is learned. Strategies: Energize local business – solicit financial support Diversify funding resources Advanced training of professionals Continue re-assessment of needs & priorities Use external evaluation to modify efforts

Thank You! Holly Raffle, PhD, MCHES (740)